The Embassy of Kyrgyzstan in Ukraine celebrated the 100th anniversary of the formation of the Kara-Kyrgyz Autonomous Region with a solemn event held at the National Library for Children in Kyiv. The central event was the summing up of the All-Ukrainian Children’s Drawing Contest dedicated to the works of Chingiz Aitmatov, timed to the 95th anniversary of the great writer.
The contest brought together more than 1.5 thousand children from all regions of Ukraine. Of these, 113 participants who passed the regional qualifiers were awarded prizes from the Embassy. The event was attended by more than 30 finalists and winners together with their parents, as well as representatives of the diplomatic corps, international organizations, political and public figures of Ukraine. Representatives of the Kyrgyz diaspora also took an active part.
Askar Aitmatov, President of the Aitmatov International Issyk-Kul Forum, addressed the participants with a special video message. As part of the celebrations, young artists who came to Kyiv received valuable gifts, and adults who made a significant contribution to the popularization of Turkic-language literature were awarded medals from the international organization TURKSOY and the Aitmatov Foundation.
The Embassy presented a unique almanac, which includes the best children’s works. The publication is planned to be handed over to educational institutions in Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine and the European Union, contributing to the dissemination of the cultural heritage of Chingiz Aitmatov and strengthening ties between peoples.
During the event, the importance of cultural diplomacy as a powerful tool for strengthening friendly relations between countries was repeatedly emphasized. The event was well received by the Ukrainian media, becoming an example of successful interaction between the two nations through art and literature.
The contest was an important step in popularizing Turkic-language literature, including the works of Chingiz Aitmatov, in Ukraine. It also contributed to strengthening cultural ties between Kyrgyzstan and Ukraine by emphasizing the role of art in intercultural dialogue.
The event was held in compliance with all security measures appropriate to wartime conditions and demonstrated the importance of cultural cooperation in difficult times.
